Measuring device



JamZQ, 1%6. H. A. JOHNSTON MEASURING DEVICE Filed NOV. 9, 1954 3 aim Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEASURING DEVICE Application November 9, 1934, Serial No. 752,222

12 Claims.

This invention relates to measuring devices and more particularly to devices for measuring garments such as womens dresses and my object is to provide a device of this character on which a garment may be accurately and quickly measured longitudinally and transversely so that it may be subsequently re-measured at the same points to determine definitely whether the garment has stretched or shrunk in the meantime.

I attain my object by providing a board having a scale extending lengthwise thereof. Slidably mounted on the board is a hook adapted to carry a hanger on which the garment to be measured is hung. The hook is movable relative to the board so that the neck of the garment may be positioned at the zero mark on the scale whereby the length of the garment may be readily determined. The transverse dimensions of the garment at the bust and hips are found by separate scales mounted to slide longitudinally of the board and of another scale located adjacent one edge of the board so that the points where the bust and hip measurements are taken relative to the neck of the garment are obtained. To enable certain garments (having a marked tendency to stretch out of shape if hung vertically) to be measured accurately, I mount the board on pivots so that it may be readily swung to a substantially horizontal position/ The constructions are hereinafter more fully described and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front view of my device showing the board in its vertical position;

Fig. 2 a side elevation of the parts in Fig. 1 shown in full lines, the board being shown in substantially horizontal position in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 a cross section, on an enlarged scale, partly broken away on the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the slide parts shown in Fig. 3; and

5 a detail in perspective of the latch for releasably locking the board in its vertical position.

In the drawing like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

l is a board which may be made of sheet steel having inturned edges l around its sides to stiffen it and serve for other purposes as hereinafter described. The board is provided with a scale 2 extending longitudinally thereof and preferably centrally thereof. A hook or other suitable support 3 is carried by a rod 3 which is slidably mounted in any suitable manner on the rear face of the board. Preferably the rod is slidably mounted on the board by passing it through an opening in that portion of the upper inturned edge l which extends at right angles to the board. The hook is adapted to carry a hanger 4 on which the garment 5 to be measured is hung and the hook is movable length- Wise of the board to position the neck 5 of the garment at the zero mark of the scale 2 whereby the length of the garment may be readily seen at 5 on the scale 2. ment may be at the back or front thereof whichever is higher than the other. The rod 3 may be operated by any suitable means such as that shown in the drawing in which the lower end of the rod is pivotally connected by a hooked bolt 3 with a lever 6. The hook engages the rod and the threaded end of the bolt passes through the lever. A spring washer is disposed on the bolt between the lever and a nut which is tightened sufficiently to ensure the engagement of the hook and rod and yet permit these parts to swing slightly relative to the lever as the latter is swung on its pivot to move the rod through the opening in the upper inturned edge of the board.

The lever is pivoted at t on a longitudinal inturned edge i of the board and extends beyond the other longitudinal edge thereof so that it may readily be operated. The free end of the lever passes between the other inturned edge of the board and a bar I secured thereto. This bar is spring pressed towards the last mentioned inturned edge so that it frictionally retains the lever and thus the hook 3 in any desired position.

Two transverse rules 8 and 9 are mounted on the upper end of the board I to slide longitudinally thereof and of the scale 2 for measuring the garment at the bust and hips. Not only are these measurements taken but the points at which they were taken relative to the neck 5 are also measured. To facilitate the recording of the points at which these measurements are taken, I provide a second scale 2 which is substantially parallel to and is located to one sideof the scale 2. It is obvious that the scale 2 could be formed by extending the graduations of the scale 2 laterally or by jogging the upper end of the scale 2 to one side of the lower portion thereof and extending the zero mark across the board at or near the upper end thereof. Each of the rules 8, 9 is slidably mounted transversely of the board I in the smaller of two channel shaped guides I0, H which are telescoped together and are secured to U- shaped slides l0 and II. These slides are dis- The neck 5 of the garposed on the outer edges of bars I ll which are secured to the board l adjacent its longitudinal edges. Preferably the outer edges of the bars lo H are flush with the longitudinal edges of the board and the bars are spaced from the front side of the board so that clearance is provided for the slides.

The telescopic guides 10, H of each set of guides are held in telescopic engagement by a spring 12 which also serves to hold the slides lfl li on the bars lll li and to frictionally retain the slides as positioned thereon. The opposite ends of the'springs l2 are engaged with projec tions depending from the undersides of the guides i8 and H. The zero ends of the rules 8, 9 may be provided with projections 8 9 for engaging the sides of the garment remote from the side of the board at which the scaleZ and the free end of the lever 6 are located. The method of taking and recording the measurements is to first obtain the'length of the garment, then obtain the bust measurement and ascertain from the scale 2 where this measurement was taken, and then obtain the hip meas urement and ascertainrwhere the guide. H3 carrying the rule 9 used for this measurement crosses the scale 2*. 1 Thus the measurements-41,

35-43, 32-22 indicate the length of the garment,

the bust at 8" down, and the hipsat 22" down,

respectively. V 7

To measure the sleeves, I provide the scales 13. which are formed on or secured to the front surface of the board I. 'These scales are preferably inclined towards the longitudinal center line of the board to lie substantially parallel to the inner sides of the sleeves of the average styled garment when the sleeves are moved slightly away from the main portion of the garment. That is to say, the scales are arranged on the board to measure the sleeves just as if the measurement were being taken with the garment on a person.

Certain garmentssuch as those made of wool have a tendency to stretch out of shape when hung'on a hanger. accurately, I so mount the board that it may be used in a substantially horizontal position. The garment will thus be lying flat on the board and its tendency to stretch is overcome. The board is pivoted at lb on standards M carried by a base M which maybe provided with casters. The pivotal connection between the base and board is so located relative to'the length of the latter that the board tends to fall to its horizontal position. Any releasable locking means, such as the latch l5 pivoted on a cross member M of the base for engaging the lower inturned edge I of the board, may be employed. This latch is provided with a foot engaging projection l5 for releasing the latch which is so weighted or its pivot so arranged that it tends to move into its locking position. The latch is provided with an inclined surface l5 adapted to be engaged by the outer side of the lower inturned edge l as the board nears its vertical position, to raise the latch sufficiently to enable it to engage the inner side of the said edge.

Legs l6 pivoted at it at the upper corners of the board are adapted to fall by gravity away from the board, as it moves to its horizontal position. Self locking braces [6 limit the movement of the legs relative to the boardto position them for engagement with the floor whereby the board is supported by the legs and the pivots. To returnthe board .to its normal or vertical position,

To measure these garments I the braces Ni are unlocked and then swung with the legs l6. against the underside of the table and held there until the board is swung to its 'vertical position and the latch is re-engaged therewith; 7

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A measuring device including a central scale for measuring the length of a garment; garment carrying means movable relative to the scale to position the neck of 'the garment .to a predetermined mark on the scale; a second scale 10- catedto one side of the central scale and arranged substantially parallel thereto; and means for measuring the garment transversely thereof, the last mentioned means being slidable longitudinally of the garment and of the second scale so that the mark thereon where the transverse measurement was made may be recorded.

2. A measuring deviceincluding'a board provided with a graduated scale for measuring the length of a garment; a'sup'port adapted to carry a hanger on which the garment is hung, the, sup

port being movable relative to the board so that the neck of the garment may be positioned at a predetermined mark on the. scale; and a rule slidable longitudinally of theboard andof the scale for measuring the garment transversely thereof sojthat the point on the scale where the transverse measurement was taken may be .recorded.

3. A measuring device including a "board provided with a graduated scale for measuring the length of a garment; a supportnadapted to carry a hanger on which the garment is hung, the support being movable relative to the board so that the neck of the garment may be positioned at a predetermined mark on the scale; a rule slidable longitudinally of the board and of the scale for measuring the garment transversely thereof so that the point onthe scale wherethe transverse measurement was taken maybe recorded; and

scales carried by the board for measuring the sleeves of the garment.

4. A'measuring device, including a board pro-' 'vided with a graduated scale for measuring the length of a garment; a support adapted to carry a hanger on which the garment is hung, the support being movable relative to the board; means for moving the support to position the neck of the garment at a predetermined mark on the scale; and means forjrictionally retaining the support moving means as positioned.

5. A measuring device including'a board provided with a graduated scale for measuring the length of a garment; a support adapted. to carry a hanger on which the garment is hung, the support being movablerelative to the board so that the neck of the garment may be positioned at a predetermined mark on the scale; aguide slidable longitudinally of the board. and of the scale; and a rule slidably mounted in the guide for measuring thegarment transversely thereof.

6. A measuringdevice including a board pro vided with a graduated scale for measuring the length of a garment; a support adapted to carry a hanger on which the garment is hung, the support being movable relative to the board so that the neck of the garment may be positioned at a predetermined mark on the scale; bars extending along the edges of the board in spaced relationship to the surface thereof; channel shaped telesco-pic guides, each'guide having a U shaped slide disposed on the outer edge of the adjacent bar;

spring means connected with the guides to. tend to 'dra'w'the slides'towards one anotherlandto retain the. guides in telescopic relationship; and a rule slidably mounted in the smaller of the telescopic guides for measuring the garment transversely thereof.

7. A measuring device including a base; a board pivoted intermediate its ends on the base and provided with a graduated scale for measuring the length of a garment; and garment carrying means movable relative to the board and the scale whereby the neck of the garment may be positioned at a predetermined point on the scale.

8. A measuring device including a base; a board pivoted intermediate its ends on the base and provided with a graduated scale for measuring the length of a garment; garment carrying means movable relative to the board and the scale whereby the neck of the garment may be positioned at a predetermined point on the scale; and means for measuring the garment transversely thereof, the last mentioned means being slidable longitudinally of the board and the scale so that the mark thereon Where the transverse measurement was made may be recorded.

9. A measuring device including a base having two standards and a cross member; a board pivoted on the upper ends of the standards and provided With a graduated scale for measuring the length of a garment; means for releasably locking the board to the cross member to support it in a vertical position; and means carried by the upper end of the board to support it in a substantially horizontal position.

10. A measuring device including a board provided with a graduated scale for measuring the length of a garment; garment carrying means movable relative to the board and the scale whereby the neck of the garment may be positioned at a predetermined point on the scale; and means for measuring the garment transversely thereof, the last mentioned means being slidable longitudinally of the board and the scale so that the mark thereon where the transverse measurement was made may be recorded.

11. A measuring device including a board provided with a graduated scale for measuring the length of a garment; a support adapted to carry a hanger on which a garment is hung, the support being movable relative to the board so that the neck of the garment may be positioned at a predetermined mark on the scale; bars extending along the edges of the board in spaced relationship to the surface thereof; a guide comprising a pair of inter-engaging members, each member having a U shaped slide disposed on the outer edge of the adjacent bar; spring means connected with the members to tend to draw the slides towards one another and to retain the members in inter-engagement with one another; and a rule carried by the guide for measuring the garment transversely.

12. A measuring device for garments comprising a board on which a garment may be disposed provided with a longitudinal scale for measuring the length of a garment; transverse scales slidably mounted on the board for measuring the width of the garment at different points in its length; and means for positioning the neck portion of the garment, the said means being adjustable relative to the board and the longitudinal scale.

HOWARD ADDISON JOHNSTON. 

